E-text prepared by Steven desJardins
and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders
THE VANISHING MAN
TO MY FRIEND
A.E.B.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE VANISHING MAN
II THE EAVESDROPPER
III JOHN THORNDYKE
IV LEGAL COMPLICATIONS AND A JACKAL
V THE WATERCRESS-BED
VI SIDELIGHTS
VII JOHN BELLINGHAM'S WILL
VIII A MUSEUM IDYLL
IX THE SPHINX OF LINCOLN'S INN
X THE NEW ALLIANCE
XI THE EVIDENCE REVIEWED
XII A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY
XIII THE CROWNER'S QUEST
XIV WHICH CARRIES THE READER INTO THE PROBATE COURT
XV CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
XVI "O! ARTEMIDORUS, FAREWELL!"
XVII THE ACCUSING FINGER
XVIII JOHN BELLINGHAM
XIX A STRANGE SYMPOSIUM
XX THE END OF THE CASE
CHAPTER I
THE VANISHING MAN
The school of St. Margaret's Hospital was fortunatein its lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence, or ForensicMedicine, as it is sometimes described. At some schoolsthe lecturer on this subject is appointed apparently forthe reason that he lacks the qualifications to lectureon any other. But with us it was very different: JohnThorndyke was not only an enthusiast, a man of profoundlearning and great reputation, but he was anexceptional teacher, lively and fascinating in style andof endless resources. Every remarkable case that hadever been recorded he appeared to have at his fingers'ends; every fact—chemical, physical, biological, oreven historical—that could in any way be twisted intoa medico-legal significance, was pressed into his service;and his own varied and curious experiences seemedas inexhaustible as the widow's cruse. One of hisfavourite devices for giving life and interest to arather dry subject was that of analysing and commentingupon contemporary cases as reported in the papers(always, of course, with a due regard to the legal andsocial proprieties); and it was in this way that I firstbecame introduced to the astonishing series of eventsthat was destined to exercise so great an influence onmy own life.
The lecture which had just been concluded had dealtwith the rather unsatisfactory subject of survivorship.Most of the students had left the theatre, and the remainderhad gathered round the lecturer's table tolisten to the informal comments that Dr. Thorndykewas wont to deliver on these occasions in an easy,conversational manner, leaning against the edgeof the table and apparently addressing his remarksto a stick of blackboard chalk that he held in hisfingers.
"The problem of survivorship," he was sayin